Have I mentioned how much I'm enjoying this series? I think this one is the best episode yet, even though it's plainly too short, and there's a consequent giant leap in the story part way through.

In a prison in Russia, a new arrival is being given a thorough search to be sure that he's fully escape-proofed. The fact that it's his ears they're peering into, and that he's wearing trousers, suggests that this show was firmly aimed at the family market. Anyway, they put him in a strait-jacket and lock him up in a bare cell, and twenty seconds later he's legged it.

Back in America, computer genius Orwell keeps making vague references to her mysterious real identity. It's very difficult to believe that her real identity is still a mystery though, given the show's habit of juxtaposing shots of her and Fleming. Although I suppose that could be a massive red herring.

Meanwhile, Vince is obsessively reading comics about The Cape, in his increasingly funky secret lair. His bed seems to be a metal hammock dangling from the ceiling, and the windows are awesome.

Vince is missing his wife and kid.

Which leads to yet another transitory shot where father and son are somehow reading the same comic at the same time. That's a remarkable ability.

But back in the plot, the Russian no-longer-a-prisoner turns up at the carnival. He's an old member, and it turns out that Vince's spider-silk cape ought to belong to him. It has a dastardly history, being passed from teacher to pupil for hundreds of years, and used for nefarious purposes. Ringmaster Max is ashamed of his part in its history, hence giving it to Vince for do-gooding. Russian Guy Who Probably Does Have A Name wants it back, but mustn't be allowed to have it, or he'll use it to murder even more people than he's busily killing already.

Russian Escaping Man displays the skills that allow him to be such a good escapologist. To the obvious delight of his dinner companions.

Elsewhere in the city, Vince's wife has discovered that a group of railworkers who were on duty the day of Vince's "death" saw everything, and know that he was framed. Sadly she runs straight to Vince's old partner with this, and he of course works for Fleming. Still, it was a nice try.

And this is the point at which the plot takes a wild leap (clearly because the advertisers nicked fifteen minutes from out the middle of it). As Ringmaster Max gets dressed up for a performance, he hears a noise, and then - ping! - Russian Escapologist is wearing his shiny jacket, and being Ringmaster in his place.

And Ringmaster Max is chained up in an escapologist's water tank, whilst the rest of the carnival is all tied up on the knifethrower's board. When did this happen?!

But never fear, for here comes The Cape! Hurrah!

And Orwell, who quickly rescues the unfathomably trussed up carnivalleers.

Swinging on his rope (fortunately there seem to be quite a lot of them randomly dotted about the tent), The Cape smashes the water tank, in a kick so powerful that Ringmaster Max is not only freed from the tank, but from the chains as well. But - oh no! - it's all a ruse!

Taking advantage of the distraction, the Russian guy sneaks up behind Vince, and half inches the cape. Vince is most put out.

All of this makes this happen. I have no idea why, but it's golden fire rain, so I'm not complaining.

Once again, Vince the Vaguely Incompentent Superhero gets bitchslapped by the villain.

Who is doing a fine bit of angsty evilling. It's his cape, damn it, and how could Ringmaster Max take on Vince as a pupil in his place, when all he did was murder loads of people? It's not like that's even bad.

Whirling the cape about, he catches Vince in it, and threatens to crush him like the cape's a boa constrictor.

I would just like to thank the light for choosing this moment to be so spectacularly and needlessly dramatic. Although it results in the entire audience being hopelessly dazzled, it does add a nice superhero touch to the screenshot.

Vince does not wish to be boa constricted. With a quick flip, he turns the tables...

... and wraps the cape around the Russian Suddenly No Longer Quite So Escapologic's throat.

But he's a hero and cannot kill, so he instead tells the gang to turn the guy over to the police (even though this has already been shown to be pointless, given his escaping skills. And the police are all crooked anyway). But still. We've won! Hurrah!

And with the cape won back, and its evil lineage diverted, Vince strides off into the light. Hurrah again!

Then he goes off with Orwell to spy on Fleming's men, only to see all the railworkers being loaded up on trucks to be shipped out of state. You can do that with your employees? Cool. They take loads of pictures to send to Vince's wife, although you can't really see what's happening in any of them.

Meanwhile, Fleming sits alone and thinks of his daughter, and we flash yet again to Orwell. He'd have been thirteen when he fathered her, but the inference is increasingly obvious. I do hope I'm wrong though, partly because it's way too obvious, and partly because he clearly isn't old enough. Although he was a vampire in True Blood, so I suppose he could be a lot older than he looks.